Correlation of Serum Homocysteine Levels and Hyperinsulinaemia with Body Mass Index in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies affecting women in reproductive age group. The interrelationship of serum homocysteine, homoeostatic assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and body mass index amongst overweight, obese and non-obese PCOS patients is not fully established.

AIMS

We aimed to study the correlation of serum homocysteine levels and hyperinsulinaemia with body mass index (BMI) in PCOS patients.

STUDY SETTING AND DESIGN

This was a case-control study in which 35 women with PCOS and 35 non-PCOS women acting as controls were enrolled.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cases were identified by Rotterdam's criteria. (IR) indices, HOMA determination and serum homocysteine levels were determined and their correlation with BMI was studied.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Student's -test and analysis of variance test were used for statistical analysis. The Pearson correlation coefficient was then used to estimate the correlation.

RESULTS

On overall evaluation, a significant positive correlation of fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and serum homocysteine) was observed ( < 0.05), however, on evaluating the correlation of these markers independently in cases and controls, only fasting insulin and HOMA-IR showed a significant correlation. In a multivariate model where PCOS was considered a dependent variable with age, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, serum homocysteine and body mass index as the independent variables, only serum homocysteine levels were found to be significantly associated with the dependent variable (odds ratio = 1.172; 95% confidence interval = 1.032-1.330).

CONCLUSION

PCOS women had significantly higher mean fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR and homocysteine levels as compared to non-PCOS controls. Mean HOMA-IR, homocysteine and fasting insulin levels showed a significant incremental trend with increasing BMI category in overall evaluation as well as in cases and controls independently.